SPIRITUAL: Tara Practice

Tara, a female buddha, represents enlightened activities that address a multitude of our spiritual and temporal needs. These are represented by the 21 Taras, each an aspect of her buddha nature and wisdom. In this practice, we deepen our connection to each of the 21 Taras by visualizing her present with us, contemplating the specific enlightened activity of each Tara, and engaging in the Seven Limbs of practice:  prostration, offering, purification, rejoicing, entreating Tara to remain, requesting Tara to teach, and dedication. We begin the practice with creating a beautiful and bountiful offering table, overflowing with offerings to each of the 21 Taras. Everyone is encouraged to come and participate in this aspect of the practice. You are also welcome to bring your own flower or food offerings (for this practice, please avoid foods containing egg, meat, onion or garlic).

Students at all levels will enjoy this practice, which we do in English.

This practice was written by Panchen Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen at Tashi Lunpo Monastery in Tibet.  Geshe Gelek's  teacher, the former Abbot of Sera Je Monastery, Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek,  said when he visited in 2011 that we have a special connection to Tara, so doing her practice is incredibly beneficial for our community, harmony working together, and the success of Kadampa Center.

The Tara practice consists of reciting sadhanas and mantras for each of the 21 emanations of Tara.  Sadhanas are tantric meditations through which a practitioner aims to achieve union or identity with a divine being such as Mother Tara through visualizations and prayers.

Traditionally the offerings for the sangha and altar are sponsored by Dharma students, especially if they want to dedicate the merit to their loved ones in need of support and prayers. Sponsorship of Tara practice is $125.

Please click here to sponsor Tara practice.

Be sure to include a dedication! 

If you'd like to know more about sponsoring a puja, please contact pujas@kadampa-center.org for instructions about making the donation and sending your personal dedication.

Protector, remover of obstacles, model of enlightened activity, inspiration to Lama Atisha - Tara is all of these. Doing Tara practice clears obstacles in our spiritual lives and helps us attain our positive goals, both spiritual and mundane. Kadampa Center has a special relationship with Tara, according to Sera Jey Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek, our Geshes' teacher, who consecrated our Tara statues during a visit to Kadampa Center.  Here is an opportunity to deepen our connection to her!

In this one day mini-retreat, Geshe Gelek will  lead us in  Tara retreat as it is traditionally practiced - beginning before dawn and ending after sundown. 

This is a daytime rereat - we will not sleep over at the Center.

Kadampa Center will provide breakfast and lunch.

Anyone is welcome to attend any session, but we encourage all to try to attend the full retreat to get the maximum benefit.

Schedule:

Supporting the retreat

Supporting the retreat is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering spiritual programs without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to participate in spiritual practice. (Occasionally we will request a registration fee for a retreat.) We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting teachings and practice benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher or retreat deity.

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support retreats:  Sponsorships and Donations

Sponsorships for the Tara mini-retreat are $125 to sponsor a single day and $250 to sponsor the full retreat.

Sponsors receive:

  The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Donationsare any amount less than $125.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

  The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the retreat is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Tara Mini-Retreat Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor breakfast or lunch ~ $75

Sponsor full retreat  ~ $250

Sponsor half day ~ $125

Tara Mini-Retreat Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving - $Your Choice

Thank You!!

Protector, remover of obstacles, model of enlightened activity, inspiration to Lama Atisha - Tara is all of these. Doing Tara practice clears obstacles in our spiritual lives and helps us attain our positive goals, both spiritual and mundane. Kadampa Center has a special relationship with Tara, according to Sera Jey Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek, our Geshes' teacher, who consecrated our Tara statues during a visit to Kadampa Center.  Here is an opportunity to deepen our connection to her!

In this two day mini-retreat, Geshe Gelek will lead us in Tara retreat.  He recommends that students bring notebooks or other means of taking notes, so that later we can do retreat on our own.

This is a daytime rereat - we will not sleep over at the Center.

Kadampa Center will provide lunch. Please note that lunch breaks are only one hour, so there is very little time to go out for lunch.

Anyone is welcome to attend any session, but we encourage all to try to attend the full retreat to get the maximum benefit.

Registration requested. Register here.

The Family Program and the Meditation Circle will take place as usual on Sunday morning.  Children and parents are welcome to gather in the gompa before 10:3 am and circumambulate the Tara altar.

Schedule:

The Family Program and the Meditation Circle will take place as usual on Sunday morning.

Supporting the retreat

Supporting the retreat is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering spiritual programs without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to participate in spiritual practice. (Occasionally we will request a registration fee for a retreat.) We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting teachings and practice benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher or retreat deity.

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support retreats:  Sponsorships and Donations

Sponsorships for the Tara mini-retreat are $125 to sponsor a single day and $250 to sponsor the full retreat.

Sponsors receive:

The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Donations are any amount less than $125.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the retreat is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Tara Mini-Retreat Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor the lunch ~ $75

Sponsor full retreat  ~ $250

Sponsor one day ~ $125

Tara Mini-Retreat Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving - $Your Choice

Thank You!!

Protector, remover of obstacles, model of enlightened activity, inspiration to Lama Atisha - Tara is all of these. Doing Tara practice clears obstacles in our spiritual lives and helps us attain our positive goals, both spiritual and mundane. Kadampa Center has a special relationship with Tara, according to Sera Jey Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek, our Geshes' teacher, who consecrated our Tara statues during a visit to Kadampa Center.  Here is an opportunity to deepen our connection to her!

In this two day mini-retreat, Geshe Gelek will  lead us in  Tara retreat. 

This is a daytime rereat - we will not sleep over at the Center.

Kadampa Center will provide lunch. Please note that lunch breaks are only one hour, so there is very little time to go out for lunch.  The second session will begin promptly at 1 pm.

Anyone is welcome to attend any session, but we encourage all to try to attend the full retreat to get the maximum benefit.

The Family Program and the Meditation Circle will take place as usual on Sunday morning. Children and parents are welcome to gather in the gompa before 10:3 am and circumambulate the Tara altar.

Registration requested. Register here.

Sunday Schedule:

Supporting the retreat

Supporting the retreat is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering spiritual programs without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to participate in spiritual practice. (Occasionally we will request a registration fee for a retreat.) We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting teachings and practice benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher or retreat deity.

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support retreats: Sponsorships and Donations

Sponsorships for the Tara mini-retreat are $125 to sponsor a single day and $250 to sponsor the full retreat.

Sponsors receive:

  The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Donationsare any amount less than $125.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

  The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the retreat is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Tara Mini-Retreat Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor the lunch ~ $75

Sponsor full retreat  ~ $250

Sponsor one day ~ $125

Tara Mini-Retreat Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving - $Your Choice

Thank You!!

Protector, remover of obstacles, model of enlightened activity, inspiration to Lama Atisha - Tara is all of these. Doing Tara practice clears obstacles in our spiritual lives and helps us attain our positive goals, both spiritual and mundane. Kadampa Center has a special relationship with Tara, according to Sera Jey Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek, our Geshes' teacher, who consecrated our Tara statues during a visit to Kadampa Center.  Here is an opportunity to deepen our connection to her!

In this two day mini-retreat, Geshe Gelek will  lead us in  Tara retreat. 

This is a daytime rereat - we will not sleep over at the Center.

Kadampa Center will provide lunch. Please note that lunch breaks are only one hour, so there is very little time to go out for lunch.  The second session will begin promptly at 1 pm.

Anyone is welcome to attend any session, but we encourage all to try to attend the full retreat to get the maximum benefit.

Registration requested. Register here.

Saturday Schedule:

Supporting the retreat

Supporting the retreat is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering spiritual programs without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to participate in spiritual practice. (Occasionally we will request a registration fee for a retreat.) We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting teachings and practice benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher or retreat deity.

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support retreats:  Sponsorships and Donations

Sponsorships for the Tara mini-retreat are $125 to sponsor a single day and $250 to sponsor the full retreat.

Sponsors receive:

  The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Donationsare any amount less than $125.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

  The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the retreat is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Tara Mini-Retreat Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor the lunch ~ $75

Sponsor full retreat  ~ $250

Sponsor one day ~ $125

Tara Mini-Retreat Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving - $Your Choice

Thank You!!

Protector, remover of obstacles, model of enlightened activity, inspiration to Lama Atisha - Tara is all of these. Doing Tara practice clears obstacles in our spiritual lives and helps us attain our positive goals, both spiritual and mundane. Come join in the first part of the retreat practice: setting up the altar and gompa in preparation for the retreat.  This involves bringing the 21 Taras from the main altar to a special altar the center of the gompa, and setting up everything needed for offerings.

Find out details about the full retreat here.

In this Saturday mini-retreat, Geshe Gelek will lead us in Tara retreat. 

Please note that lunch breaks are only one hour, so there is very little time to go out for lunch. Kadampa Center will provide lunch.

Anyone is welcome to attend any session, but we encourage all to try to attend the full retreat to get the maximum benefit.

Friday Schedule:

Supporting the retreat

Supporting the retreat is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering spiritual programs without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to participate in spiritual practice. (Occasionally we will request a registration fee for a retreat.) We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting teachings and practice benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher or retreat deity.

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support retreats:  Sponsorships and Donations

Sponsorships for the one-day Tara mini-retreat are $125.

Sponsorships for lunch for everyone at the retreat at $75.

Sponsors receive:

The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Donations are any amount less than $125.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the retreat is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Tara Mini-Retreat Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor the lunch ~ $75

Sponsor one day ~ $125

Tara Mini-Retreat Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving - $Your Choice

Thank You!!

Protector, remover of obstacles, model of enlightened activity, inspiration to Lama Atisha - Tara is all of these. Doing Tara practice clears obstacles in our spiritual lives and helps us attain our positive goals, both spiritual and mundane. Kadampa Center has a special relationship with Tara, according to Sera Jey Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek, our Geshes' teacher, who consecrated our Tara statues during a visit to Kadampa Center.  Here is an opportunity to deepen our connection to her!

In this mini-retreat, Geshe Gelek will lead us in Tara retreat. 

This is a daytime rereat.

Please note that lunch breaks are only one hour, so there is very little time to go out for lunch. We will provide lunch at the Center.

Anyone is welcome to attend any session, but we encourage all to try to attend the full retreat to get the maximum benefit.

Registration requested. Register here.

Schedule:

Supporting the retreat

Supporting the retreat is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering spiritual programs without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to participate in spiritual practice. (Occasionally we will request a registration fee for a retreat.) We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting teachings and practice benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher or retreat deity.

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support retreats:  Sponsorships and Donations

Sponsorships for the one-day Tara mini-retreat are $125.

Sponsorships for lunch for everyone at the retreat at $75.

Sponsors receive:

The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Donations are any amount less than $125.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the dedication by two days before the retreat begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the retreat is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu.

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Tara Mini-Retreat Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor the lunch ~ $75

Sponsor one day ~ $125

Tara Mini-Retreat Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving - $Your Choice

Thank You!!